Jumbo Diaz has become a big contributor in bullpen

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Jumbo Diaz (70) reacts after getting out of the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park.(Photo: The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger)

MIAMI – After Jumbo Diaz give up two home runs in his big league debut, Reds starter Johnny Cueto went up to him and offered him some advice.

"You have good stuff, use your pitches – throw your slider, changeup and fastball. Get comfortable and have fun in the game," Diaz remembered the Reds ace telling him.

And while happy and enjoying his first big-league experience in his debut on June 20, Diaz said he was nervous. And after such a long road to the big leagues – Diaz was signed by the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic as a 17-year old in 2001 and after 12 minor-league seasons and five different organizations, why wouldn't he be nervous?

But since then, he's taken Cueto's advice to heart and Cueto's been proven correct.

Since Diaz's debut against the Blue Jays, he's given up just two runs in 14 games. Batters are hitting just .104 against him in that stretch, and he's struck out 17 batters in 14 2/3 innings with just four walks.

In Saturday's loss to the Diamondbacks, Reds manager Bryan Price brought Diaz into a tie game in the eighth inning with a runner on first and the Marlins' most dangerous hitter, Giancarlo Stanton, up to the plate. Diaz got Stanton to ground out to end the inning and then struck out the side in the ninth to force extra innings.

"There's not a situation I wouldn't bring him into right now," Price said of Diaz.

In the hierarchy of the bullpen, Price said Diaz is now third on the list of closers, behind Aroldis Chapman (102 career saves) and Jonathan Broxton (117 career saves).

In retrospect, the Reds could have certainly used Diaz earlier in the season as part of what has been an inconsistent bullpen. Diaz was one of the last cuts of spring.

"When they sent me down to Louisville on the last day of spring training, I knew I had to keep focus and keep doing what I was doing," Diaz said.

Diaz is now doing everything he can to stay up -- keeping up with his conditioning and maintaining his weight, throwing strikes and getting outs. The way he's gone about his business has not gone unnoticed.

"The other part of it that has been impressive has been his demeanor," Price said. "Maybe that's just the maturity of a 30-year-old man with a lot of life experience in this game. He's embraced this opportunity, he's early to the ballpark, he's not cavalier about it. He's been very, very focused on maintaining his in-season shape and fitness. He's been a boost. He's been a real boost."